REFORM UK have criticised French President Emmanuel Macron for declining to meet Nigel Farage during his state visit to the UK – a decision they've branded an “outrageous and deliberate snub”.
Macron is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey on Tuesday, followed by a state banquet at Windsor Castle.
They represent the three largest in Parliament, with Labour in government, the Conservatives in opposition with 121 MPs, and the Liberal Democrats holding 72 seats.
Reform UK currently only have four MPs, after one left the party whip over Covid loan-related allegations.
The SNP, who have nine MPs, also did not receive an invitation from Macron, though managed to refrain from publishing angry statements regarding the state visit.
Similarly, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru – both parties which have the same number of MPs as Reform – were not invited to meet with the French president.
Reform Deputy leader Richard Tice (below) released a furious statement on Monday, calling Macron’s decision an “outrageous and deliberate snub”.
He wrote: “Reform is polling higher than all of the other parties, and by denying Nigel a meeting with Macron, the Establishment is shutting its eyes to the lights of the Reform train that is coming.”
Tice further speculated that the alleged snub was Macron’s way of responding to Reform’s criticisms of French procedures around immigration, adding: “If Macron was confident of his handling of the small boats issue, he would happily meet with Nigel.”
He doubled down on his sentiments during an LBC appearance on Tuesday, saying: “Nigel Farage is clearly very disappointed not to be given the same opportunity to meet president Macron that Kemi Badenoch and Ed Davey are given.
“Because what the prime minister should be saying is what we’re saying, which is, ‘Monsieur President, either you stop the migrant boats or we’ll stop your fishing boats’.”
Tice’s rant comes after it was revealed that former Tory cabinet member, David Jones, had defected to Reform.
